Michael Gash knows all about the romance of the FA Cup – as a player and a fan.

The King’s Lynn striker enjoyed a cup run with Kidderminster four seasons ago – his two second round goals against Newport County earned him the FA’s Player of the Round and with it a ticket to the final.

He then went to hometown club Peterborough United and scored the opener in the 3-2 third round replay win, which earned a trip to Sunderland, the then Premier League side edging through 1-0.

It’s an experience Gash won’t forget – and which Lynn could do with this afternoon as they face a tough-looking second round qualifying trip to Nuneaton Town, who play a step higher in the National League North.

“I know some of the top teams now might see it as a bit of a hindrance, but growing up I used to love the FA Cup, especially the final day,” said the 31-year-old striker. “The FA Cup is brilliant, and especially for clubs like King’s Lynn who are lower down. You go far and the actual financial benefits from it are superb for a club.”

Nuneaton are without a win in their last five games and sit five places off the bottom of the table, and while the difference in levels may tell, Lynn’s good form – they are fourth in the Southern Premier and have just suffered their first defeat in eight league and cup games.

“Gash said: “It is going to be a test – they are a league above – but the way we are going we will go to any place and try and play it how we play. Maybe like teams are coming to us, maybe we will go to them and do the same to them, but again I think you look at us and we are confident enough to play football, even against teams in a league above us and hopefully we can go there and do something.

“You are not going to blow your own trumpet, but I think if you look throughout the team there are some really, really good players who can easily play levels above. We are confident every time we step on the pitch, but we have to be professional every time and nobody tells us that more than the gaffer.”

Nuneaton manager Tommy Wright welcomes a break in the league routine.

“We hope that the FA Cup can be a positive distraction and a catalyst in turning around our fortunes,” he said.